I can't buy this house....can I?

[allthegooduseridsaretaken]

I had a really difficult childhood with an alcoholic parent ( the other parent left when I was a baby and remarried and had a new family and I was forgotten about) he made me homeless at 15 just before my exams so I ended up with no qualifications and as an adult a shit tonne of mental health problems.

I've been self-employed most of my life as despite being a hard worker, my mental health makes me a terrible employee sometimes. My little business bumps along and it helps my mind and pays my bills.

I bought my council house with savings 20yrs ago just before my husband died so really other than basic decorating I've never been able to afford improvements.
. Im not happy here but I've always thought this was as good as life gets and accepted that was my lot.
My parent died in January and has left me approx 300k in a combination of cash and property. I had no idea and it came as a shock especially as they were very difficult my entire life and even tho I loved him he never once told me this. I still showed up and made sure he had everything he needed. Its opened up a whole heap of emotions that I have locked away for years.
By chance I came across a house for sale in late February and on spur of the moment made an appointment to go see it. The house from the front was nothing special and the inside needs minor modernising nothing i couldnt live with but the moment I entered the garden and saw the view I knew this was where I wanted to be. insat in the garden and felt something id never felt before - inner peace.
I've thought about this house daily while waiting on the grant of confirmation for my dad's estate. The house is just about to go up for sale.
Ive just had an email from the estate agent reducing the house I love to £285k. My own house is nowhere near sellable and my dad's money would only just cover the new house and the extra stamp duty I'd have to pay.

The estate is 177k cash, house is valued at 125k and about to go up for sale. My current house is probably worth around 150k without doing anything to it (possibly 200k+ if I renovate judging by sold prices of similar houses). I have about 5k in savings.

Aibu to think I could buy the house somehow get a loan/morgage to renovate my current house with a low income but 2 houses?

Please be gentle, I'm fully aware this is a fortunate position to be in but this a first for me and I'm turning myself inside out with noone to talk to.

You don’t want to pay the extra stamp duty to buy the new house. Make your current house look as nice as you can don’t go mad, get 3 estate agents to give you a price and then go for it! Good luck, it sounds lovely.

I would make an offer based on the sale of your dads house.

Then when you can build up to it, sell your house. Get someone in to clean and tidy and take pictures, stay in a hotel for a few days if needs must, ge someone to physically bring you out of the house. But thats later, you dont need to sell that to buy the other one

You do need to sell it however because otherwise you'll be stung for two lots of council tax and an asset standing empty

Reference to Confirmation indicates you are in Scotland. Remember the Scottish lands and buildings tax for 2nd homes is punative.
Your current house will sell in a heartbeat. Go for the house you want. Good luck

you dont need to sell that to buy the other one

She does unless she wants to pay higher rate stamp duty.

Sell your current house, it’ll be a huge relief, and allow yourself to be happy about the new place, that’s OK! And if there’s any money left, get some counselling to help with your thoughts. You have an inspirational story inside you.

I'm sorry this has opened difficult emotions, but glad your parent did the right thing by you in the end.
Can you approach the sellers of the house you want and explain the situation, and that you are really keen and will make things happen as soon as you can?
Best of luck.

Put in the offer today. Right now. This is the house for you. Then take everything else a step at a time. You deserve this.

And ask the agent who is selling your dream house to sell yours. That will help things go smoothly

You don’t have anything to apologise for OP. And don’t worry about having a shabby house. It’s clean and decent and as PP have said, many buyers actively want something they can put their mark on.

Get the advice of a good agent. I’d bet they’ll tell you to put your house on the market as it is. And go for it with the new house. But be aware that if you own two houses you will pay higher stamp duty.

And consider spending some spare money on counselling to help you process everything you’ve gone through. I’ve started this in the last few months and it’s been life changing. Good luck.

What is your mental health like op?
do you have any dependents?
do you work?

Go for it. Get your house up for sale this week. You've got to be in it to win it! Good luck op.